Say no to zoning law change

Two years ago, the Italy Town Board adopted a zoning law designed to protect and preserve our beautiful, quiet hills from industrial wind turbines.

Vince Johnson

Two years ago, the Italy Town Board adopted a zoning law designed to protect and preserve our beautiful, quiet hills from industrial wind turbines.

At the time, the town’s special attorney — Edward Premo — said the town had crafted the strongest possible law to keep the turbines out of Italy. It even included special provisions, should the state overturn the turbine ban included in the law, that would continue to protect the town.

At that time, Harry Willis — special counsel to the New York State Department of State — also advised that the town had every legal right to ban turbines here, if it wished to, under New York home rule law.

The board is now proposing to change our zoning law to allow industrial turbines here. It has succumbed to the extortion of legal pressure placed upon it by the developer and has been tempted by their incentives. The developer has done a masterful job of beating the town down with legal sticks and then giving it hope with revenue and incentive carrots.

It is ironic that our current, strong wind turbine regulations are now being sought by other towns that want to strengthen their local turbine regulations prior to any state mandate. If the town makes this change, it will not be in a position to stop still more wind development here on the Pulver Road and West Italy hill ridges.

If the town makes this change, Italy will become another Cohocton.

If the town makes this change, it will be surrendering our homelands — and mine.

Finally, if the town makes this change and gives in to the developers, it will be doing so over the objection of many of its residents, including this one.